NASA launches unmanned ‘Maven’ spacecraft to Mars

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE BASE – NASA launched its Maven orbiter on Monday to begin a journey that could unravel the mysteries surrounding Mars’ past and current atmosphere — and perhaps reveal how the planet lost its life-friendly environment.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket rose from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Launch Complex 41 in Florida at 1:28 p.m. ET, carrying the probe into space to kick off its $671 million mission.

If all goes according to schedule, the bus-sized, 2.7-ton spacecraft will enter Martian orbit next September to study the Red Planet’s upper atmosphere over the course of at least one Earth year.